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nana

nah-nah/ˈnana/

lullaby

Also: cradle song
NounfA2
Spain
A mother gently rocking a sleeping baby in a wooden cradle.

📝 In Action

Mi madre me cantaba una nana todas las noches.

A2

My mother used to sing me a lullaby every night.

El bebé se durmió con el dulce sonido de la nana.

B1

The baby fell asleep to the sweet sound of the lullaby.

Esta es una nana tradicional de Andalucía.

B2

This is a traditional lullaby from Andalusia.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • canción de cuna (cradle song)

Common Collocations

  • cantar una nana – to sing a lullaby
  • una dulce nana – a sweet lullaby

nanny

Also: caregiver, grandma
NounfB1informal
MexicoChile
A kind woman playing with two happy children in a park.

📝 In Action

La nana cuida a los niños mientras los padres trabajan.

A2

The nanny looks after the children while the parents work.

Quiero mucho a mi nana, ella me crió.

B1

I love my nanny very much; she raised me.

Voy a visitar a mi nana este domingo.

A1

I'm going to visit my grandma/nanny this Sunday.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • niñera (nanny/babysitter)
  • abuela (grandmother)

Common Collocations

  • trabajar de nana – to work as a nanny
  • nana de planta – live-in nanny

owie

Also: booboo
NounfA1slang
Spain
A small child with a colorful bandage on their knee.

📝 In Action

¿Dónde tienes la nana? Deja que mamá te cure.

A1

Where is your owie? Let mommy fix it.

Me hice una nana en la rodilla.

A1

I got a booboo on my knee.

Ya no hay nana, ya pasó.

A1

The owie is gone now; it's over.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pupita (little pain (childish))
  • herida (wound/injury)

Common Collocations

  • hacerse una nana – to get a booboo
  • curar una nana – to fix/heal an owie

Idioms & Expressions

  • Sana, sana, colita de rana – A common rhyme said to kids when they get hurt to make them feel better.

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: nana

Question 1 of 3

If you are 'cantando una nana', what are you doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
niñera(nanny) — Noun
niño(child) — Noun
abuela(grandmother) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the repetitive sounds babies make and the soothing 'na-na-na' sound parents use to calm children. It is 'onomatopoeic', which just means the word sounds like the noise it describes.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: nannyItalian: ninna nanna

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'nana' always mean grandmother?

Not always. While it can be an affectionate name for a grandma in some families (similar to 'Nana' in English), its most common meanings in Spanish are 'lullaby' or 'nanny'.

Is it rude to call someone a 'nana'?

It depends on the region. In Chile and Mexico, it is a very common term for a household employee, but some prefer the more formal 'asesora del hogar' or 'niñera' to be more respectful.

How do you say 'to sing a lullaby'?

You say 'cantar una nana'.